Page 49 of Finally
Gray turned away from his monitor and to his office door. “Hey, Jess. What’s…” He stilled at the sight of his assistant holding a vase with a large bouquet of flowers.
“Isn’t this the most beautiful arrangement you’ve ever seen?” she said excitedly as she walked into his office and placed the vase on his desk.
It was a thick glass cube overflowing with a variety of cream and light pink-colored blooms. Gray was no expert on flowers, so he couldn’t name some of them, but he recognized the pink peonies and cream roses.
“It’s going to brighten up your whole office!”
Completely taken off guard, Gray stared at the arrangement for several long seconds. “These are for me?”
“Yes! Your name is on the card. See?” Jess turned the vase around. “The florist dropped them off with reception. Maybe they’re an early Valentine’s gift?”
He nodded, speechless, and ghosted his palm over the flowers, turning the vase around, allowing himself to see the entire arrangement. His assistant must have left his office at some point during his long perusal, because when he looked up, he was alone. Carefully, he wiggled the card out of the vase and opened it.
Gray, thank you. With all my heart, thank you. I love you. – Jack
His heart ached and he suddenly had trouble catching his breath. Pressing his hand to his chest, he bent down and inhaled the delicate fragrances.
“He got me flowers,” he whispered. Gulping down his emotions, he picked up his phone and called Jack.
“Hi,” he answered after only a couple of rings. “One second.” Sounding muffled, as if he had moved the phone away from his mouth, he said, “I’m going to step out to take this call, but please continue.” He heard footsteps, then a door close. “Gray? Sorry about that. I had to leave the conference room.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You like them?” Jack sounded nervous.
“Very much. I’ve never gotten flowers before.”
“Really? I’m honored to be the first one to give them to you.” Jack lowered his voice. “This weekend meant the world to me. I hope you know that. I really do love you, Gray.”
In all the years he had waited and hoped and fantasized about being with Jack, he hadn’t imagined how truly wonderful the reality would be. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
They both stayed silent for a few seconds and then Gray forced himself to remember that it was Monday morning and they needed to get back to work. “It sounded like I interrupted a meeting. I’ll let you get back to it. I just wanted to thank you.”
“I’m glad you called. I’ll talk to you after work.”
They said their goodbyes and then Gray set his phone on his desk and dipped down to smell the bouquet again. The flowers were delicate, elegant, and beautiful, just like the man who sent them. Gray couldn’t recall ever being more touched.
***
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Gray said as soon as Jack opened his front door.
“Why are you ringing the doorbell?” Jack laughed. “And why are you out front when you have a code to the house?”
“I’m here to pick up my date. I’m being a gentleman.”
“A gentleman, huh?” Jack grasped Gray’s jacket lapels and pulled him forward for a kiss. “Come inside so I can test the bounds of that gentlemanly propriety.”
“You can test me when we come back home.” He pressed his mouth to Jack’s. “We can’t be late for our dinner reservation or they’ll give away our table, and we’re already on a tight schedule if we want to make the show.”
“Mmm,” Jack nuzzled his neck. “I have been looking forward to the candlelight rock orchestra.” He pressed his face into Gray’s skin. “You can’t smell this good if you expect me to resist you.”
He adored seeing Jack this way—carefree, confident, horny. “I don’t want you to resist me. Just put a pin in it for a few hours while we celebrate Valentine’s Day outside of the house and then we can come back and have our own celebration inside.”
“Okay, okay.” Jack took a deep breath and then straightened Gray’s jacket. “Let’s go.”
They walked to Gray’s car, which he had parked in the driveway. He opened the door for Jack and held his arm toward it. “Monsieur.”
With a smile, Jack took a step forward and then he froze. “Gray?” he rasped.
